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Indiana Jones and Yoda Statues

Legendary movie franchises Star Wars and Indiana Jones were conceived by George Lucas, a longtime resident of California's Marin County. So it makes sense that the filmmaker would want to acknowledge the connection between his enduring film characters and the small Marin County town of San Anselmo where he lives, which is just down the road from where he brought the ideas to life. In June 2013, a new public park opened in San Anselmo, and George Lucas unveiled bronze statues of Indiana Jones and Yoda.

The park was built on land next to the town hall, where a hard-to-lease commercial building once stood. Lucas owned it, razed the structure, and donated the property to the town. Now the lot is a small park with lawn and trees, curving walkways, and a fountain with two powerful geek magnets.

Both figures were sculpted by Berkeley artist Lawrence Noble, identical to casts he made for the Yoda in the Presidio ILM offices in San Francisco.

Indiana Jones stands in his 6-ft.+ glory, fedora pulled down, shirt partly open, with whip coiled in hand, his other fist clenched for a brawl. Look between his shoes and you'll spot a skull embedded in the ground. Indy faces the park entrance and the town's upscale street of boutiques and coffee shops.

Yoda casts his wise gaze on a more obscure back corner and a drinking fountain. We noticed moms with babies in strollers congregating there. The base and every flat surface in the fountain is quickly filling up with coins, and here Yoda also seems to have the upper hand over his action pal.